On Wednesday, Dec. 5, the Kentucky Board of Education approved changes to the proposed minimum high school graduation requirements, 704 KAR 3:305. The changes add "graduation prerequisites" and "graduation qualifiers," to ensure students have basic competency in math and reading as well as experiences intended to equip them for success in postsecondary education and the workforce. The changes will now go to the Kentucky General Assembly for review.
· Check here for an overview of the requirements.
· View the slide deck from the Dec. 12, 2018 live webinar.
· Watch the Dec. 12 live webinar.
Minimum High School Graduation Requirements - Total of 22 Credits
Language Arts - 4 credits (English I, English II, English III, and English IV) to include the content contained in the Kentucky core academic standards for English and language arts. Language arts shall be taken each year of high school.*
- Mathematics - 3 credits to include Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II (An integrated, applied, interdisciplinary, or technical or occupational course that prepares a student for a career path based on the student's Individual Learning Plan may be substituted for a traditional Algebra I, Geometry or Algebra II course on an individual student basis if the course meets the content standards in the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS).
o A mathematics
course or its equivalent as determined by the district shall be taken each year
of high school to ensure readiness for postsecondary education or the
workforce,
o Any
mathematics course other than Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II shall be
counted as an elective and
o If a student does
not meet the college readiness benchmarks for mathematics as established by the
Council on Postsecondary Education in 13 KAR 2:020, the student shall take a
mathematics transitional course or intervention, which is monitored to address
remediation needs, before exiting high school.*
- Social Studies - 3 credits to include the content contained in the Kentucky Academic standards for social studies.
- Science - 3 credits that shall incorporate lab-based scientific investigation experiences and include the content contained in the Kentucky Academic Standards for science.
- Health - 1/2 credit to include the content contained in the Kentucky Academic Standards for health.
- Physical Education - 1/2 credit to include the content contained in the Kentucky Academic Standards for physical education.
- History and appreciation of visual and performing arts (or another arts course which incorporates this content) - 1 credit to include the content contained in the Kentucky Academic Standards for arts and humanities or a standards-based specialized arts course based on the student’s individual learning plan.
- Academic and career interest standards-based learning experiences - 7 credits including 4 standards-based learning experiences in an academic or career interest based on the student’s individual learning plan.
- Technology - Demonstrated performance-based competency in technology
*If a student does not meet the college readiness benchmarks for English and language arts and/or mathematics (18 for English, 20 for reading, 19 for mathematics), the student shall take a respective English and language arts or math transitional course or intervention, which is monitored to address remediation needs, before exiting high school.